ASHLAND, KY – Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series driver, Steve Francis of Ashland, KY competed in back-to-back crown jewel events the past two weekends.
On Friday and Saturday Night, August 10th and 11th Steve competed in the 30th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 Presented by Lucas oil at Florence Speedway in Union, KY. Steve was trying to become only the second driver from the Bluegrass State to win the prestigious event joining the late Jack Boggs of Grayson, KY in victory lane. Steve would wind up fifth in the $50,000 to win race, which was won by Don O’Neal.
Then last Friday and Saturday, August 17th and 18th Steve and the Barry Wright Race Team competed in the 20th Annual COMP Cams Topless 100 at Batesville Motor Speedway in Locust Grove, AR. Steve would start the weekend off on a good note passing Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN in the final laps of his heat to earn the pole position for Saturday’s $40,000 to win event.
On Saturday Night a huge crowd was on hand to witness Steve and his familiar Barry Wright Race Cars/Clements Race Engines/Valvoline sponsored #15 took the lead at the start of the 100-lap main event. Steve was strong from the very beginning and was challenged only briefly by a couple of drivers, but for the most part he would dominate the race leading every lap.
The $40,000 victory marked Steve’s first ever win in the crown-jewel event and gave chassis builder and car owner Barry Wright his first victory in the race. It would be Steve’s biggest win since 2008 and it vaulted him into third place in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings behind leader, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN and Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN.
This weekend Steve will be in action on Thursday Night, August 23rd at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN and Saturday Night, August 25th at Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, IN. Both events will pay $10,000 to win.
For more information on these upcoming events you can visit www.volunteerspeedway.com, www.lawrenceburgspeedway.com, and www.lucasdirt.com.